The vast majority of states now require that teachers be evaluated, at least in part, on student test scores—up sharply from six years ago.
A state-by-state analysis by the National Council on Teacher Quality, a backer of more rigorous evaluations, shows 42 states and the District of Columbia have policies on the books requiring that student growth and achievement be considered in evaluations for public school teachers. In 2009, only 15 states linked scores to teacher reviews.
In 16 states, student growth is the key factor in teacher evaluations, and in 28 states, teachers with “ineffective ratings are eligible for dismissal,” the report said.
Since most of the new evaluation systems were created in response to federal policy initiatives, some observers have questioned whether they will remain in place after the Obama administration leaves office.
But based on its data, the NCTQ contends that test-based evaluations have gained a “strong foothold” in state policy frameworks.
